Judge Richard Cebull admits to anti-Obama email

The chief federal judge of Montana on Wednesday admitted to sending a racially charged email about President Barack Obama that seems to compare African-Americans to dogs, but denied circulating the note because it was racist, saying he only did it because it was “anti-Obama.”

The email, first obtained by the Great Falls Tribune, was forwarded by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull last week from his court email account to seven recipients — including his own personal email address — under the subject line, “A MOM’S MEMORY.”

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“Normally I don’t send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine,” Cebull’s email begins.

The text continues on to this joke: “A little boy said to his mother; ‘Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?’ His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!’”

In an interview with the Tribune, Cebull acknowledged that the email was racist but maintained that he doesn’t consider himself a racist and that the note was meant to remain private.

“The only reason I can explain it to you is I am not a fan of our president, but this goes beyond not being a fan,” the judge told the publication. “I didn’t send it as racist, although that’s what it is. I sent it out because it’s anti-Obama.”

He also offered an apology, saying he could “understand why people would be offended.”

Pressed on whether the president has seen the news, Carney said, “I don’t know.”

Federal judges are given life-time appointments, and can only be removed through congressional impeachment.

As explained to POLITICO by Steven Lubet, a professor at Northwestern Law School and an expert on judicial ethics, any individual can file a complaint to the chief judge of the circuit in which the offending judge sits (in Cebull’s case, the 9th circuit).

The chief judge then determines if the complaint has merit, in which case he or she may appoint a special committee composed of other judges to conduct an investigation. After this process, the panel may file a formal complaint that leads to another hearing to decide if disciplinary action is necessary. This hearing can only result in reprimand or censure, or the placement of limitations on the judges’ caseload, Lubet said.

“There’s a high degree of likelihood that there will be a complaint and that Cebull will apologize abjectly and promise it will never happen again. And on that basis, the complaint will be resolved, as it should be,” he speculated Thursday.

A spokesman for the 9th circuit could not be reached for comment as of Thursday afternoon. Several of Cebull’s spokespeople also did not respond to requests for comment.

Readers' Comments (166)

The judge laments that the note is racist but he is not, he is just anti-Obama. This is typical for republicans, they cannot even admit their bigotry to themselves. He should be impeached, we do not need yet another bigot on the bench.

He says he didn't send it as racist, but because he is anti-Obama. Perhaps he is anti-Obama because he is racist. The apology was not an apology. He offended the POTUS, but even more so, he offended the President's mother, suggesting she engaged in bestiality.

It is bad enough that the social waters continue to be poisoned with this kind of vitriol around "ordinary citizens", but to directly insult both the President and his dead mother is enraging.

If I made such a suggestion about the Federal Judge's mother, he might accept it as free speech. Chances are I would find a rough time in his courtroom. I 'm from New Orleans, and doubt if there are many blacks in Montana, but any who find themselves in this racist's courtroom will be fully aware that they are not being looked at as equal in the eyes of the law.

As a judge that has shown that he is racist and not capable of administering fair justice, he must resign.

This man is a passes judgement on others? No wonder our judicial system is such a mess. Oh yeah, he was appointed by the Bush admin. They did appoint their loyal subjects while firing anyone that wasn't loyal to the republicans. So much for checks and balances. The man should be removed as a judge and every one of his decisions should be reviewed as flawed.

Time to get out the tar and feathers and run this racist out of town on a rail.Of course we wouldn't be hearing this if he were a Democrat talking about a tea party member or a Republican. I'll bet Sharpton and the Jacksons are putting on the war paint and tuning up the drums already although it's still a little too cold for their fat butts to go marching around in Montana.Besides that,there are quite a few proud american militia members there and i dont think the "race baiter express" would receive a very warm-[maybe hot] welcome.

That's pretty dumb coming for a libertarian. You guys are supposed to be all about conservative economy and small government, regardless of race. Instead you waste your life looking down on people who actually play a part in the economy of this nation. Great way to represent your ideology mate. Thanks for clarifying that all the pretty talk about self-sufficiency is all about whites only. Looks like Obama is going to be your president for another 4 years at this rate.

If ones judgement is so flawed that he thinks disseminating such an email is acceptable, how can we rely on said judgement on matters of law? Suspension from the bench and review of his cases at the very minimum seems in order.

The joke is an insult to the President's mother, and it is an attack on traditional marriage. There is nothing actually "anti-Obama" at all. But how would people react if a top Federal judge published a similar insult to Barbara Bush? He would be forced to resign immediately due to a grievous lack of judgement, since good judgement is HIS JOB. The key detail that folks are missing is how Judge Cebull felt the need to describe this crude joke as "touching".

Hey #13 (Dim Bulb). Your reference to proud american militia members is badly flawed. In most areas they are just called gangs. You call them proud because they think all their tattoos are spellled correctly.

"american militia??" What makes them a militia? Because they are going around defending freedom and equality? Doesn't sound like it.

While the joke may be in bad tatse, it is not "racist". People throw out that term without little knowledge of what it actually means. If anything, it is poking fun at the "free love" period of the sixties.